Synopsis:
Gabriel Aghion directs this bawdy period romp about a day in the life of
18th century philosopher and sensualist Denis Diderot (Vincent Perez), who
produced the first ever encyclopedia while living a life of delicious
decadence. Though the Church immediately banned Diderot's opus, which they
deemed to be a compendium of forbidden knowledge, copies continued to
circulate. Diderot, along with his wife (Francoise Lepine) and daughter, are
staying in the country estate of the Baron and Baroness d'Holbach -- who put
a pair of illegal printing presses and a legion of typesetters in a chamber
beneath the family altar. At the same time that the Church sends a grumpy
Cardinal (Michel Serrault) to ferret out the clandestine press, comely
Madame Therbouche (Fanny Ardant) shows up to paint Diderot's portrait. While
Diderot occupies himself with his artist friend, the Baroness keeps the
Cardinal occupied with her laundry list of sordid confessions. Naughty fun
soon ensues.

*****

Production Photos:

Filmed in Paris, Le Libertin
began production on July 19, 1999 through the efforts of Bel Ombre Films and Mosca Films
and was produced by Gaspard de Chavagnac.

What attracted to me to Diderot is his visionary spirit.
In my immersion in his work, I discovered a bulimic thinker, a sort of
explorer of thought. But careful, this is not a historic reconstitution of
his life."